St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-09-24
JUDGE LAWRASON,
His Appeal for Nichols and Fair Pla

Judge Samuel Nice. Lawrason. wbt
was chairman of the Nichols meeting
at Bayou sara Sept. u, SAID in opening
the proceedings:
Il have the honor to have heen Sc
| Iected TO introduce to You the distin.
@ulshed gentleman and telloW-citiZen
| VINO comes among us to-day seeking
not through any personal ambition OF
his own, but as duty which he owes
to the members of the Democratic party
who urge 1t upon him. d recognition t
your hands OF his candidacy for the
nlsh and responsible office of the gov
| ernorShlp OF this state. [ Will be ex-
cused for saying that | consider any
candidate who comes to this parish as
| particularly fortunate. for | Will say,
| without intending anything derOgatory
70 the other parishes of the state, hat
west fellclana Is particularly the home
of
INDEPENDENT THOUGHT,
free choice and fair play in politics. In
this parish the words political bossn
are unknown. and no man can boast
that he carries the vote of this parish in
his pocket TO do with 1t as he wishes.
May 1t ever be so.
In the exercise of this free choice
which, as the word implies, means the
selection and not the blind following of
some leader who may be unknown to
MN, every candidate is accorded a
Tree and unprejudlced hearing and given
a tar Judgment, formed and not simply
declared, after the hearing. I will be
pardoned tor thus dwelling on this feat
ure of our politics when you consider
the
DANGEROUS TENDENCIES
HaU o-1 ha II
OF independent thought IN party poll
ties, and the substitution therefor of
cllques and factions. where the shouts
OF the throng take the place of argu-
ment. and the people are used as kind
OF 1--we ballast TO trim the ship of some
leader sailing into snug harDor. Let
us then contribute our effort, humble
though 1t may be, in a determined al
tempt TO prevent tho rise or growth in
! Inc ne, democratic ZEN 3f party of Louisiana of
factions before the party succumbs to
their weakening effect. Of what auyan-
tase Is all the levee building in the
world IT the people who live he.
hlnd the levees are to be left
under the political thraldom of a SCI, of
bossess free people would rather be
swept away than bend to such a woke.
W can see that there is rising in this
state faction which seeks to control |
H. Snd "hlch 1t Is our solemn duty to |
strike down before it becomes too
strong for us and that no matter whom
/ may hurt. IL Is to be- expected thar !
factlon untlllt becomes strong enough |
DEFY PUBLIC OPINION
viii assume fair face, and if we find it |
rglng 70 perpetuate Itself in the con- |
rol OF the government by the nomina.
Ion OF any man. no matter who he NAV
'e or however deserving, 1t is our duty
o prevent the nomination of that man.
Applause 'AA'
1t may be said that good man NAV
ave bad followers. | admit that yery
RELY, but let us be careful to See when
hey cease to be followers and when
heir influence becomes dangerously
redomlnant. Let us select as our can.
ldate man strong enough to guard
ne interests Of the people against boss
NE, ring rule OF any other kind of rule.
Applause.
But we don't want a governor. be be
9Sponsible for 1T or not, under whose
the existence is possible |
the powerful machine (call it what
on Will ethat dares deliberately. IN the
sce oi sAe known preference of the |
eople OF TINS state, send to the United |
yates senate the man of its choice and
81 y the peoples choice. [Applause.l
Now, In all the attacks on General
lcholls you will find none that accuses
I'M OF want OF tirmness or suggests
lat ne will be Influenced or be
CONSCIOUSLY THE TOOL
any man or set of men. If then wa
low our man and place him in the
lbernatorial char, we will be- snrs
lat the principles which he repre.
! s-nncompromlslng opposition to ,
machine, ring and boss rnleN
Ia De tearlessly and faithfully main ,
WITH Governor McEnery personally :
nave no quarrel. lie has heen !
alsed. and very properly for MANY +
90 acts OF his administration. We j
so think he has been praised for mneh :
at IS neither remarkable nor wonder :
stance, While acco MIN w sgses nie der
= gI hss 0r tsksd for e. & fa5iess part
lug and ana1d -